Category: Leadership

Ok guys, there’s no way to make this sound nice… if you are a leader, you HAVE to learn how to hang in there. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Leadership is TOUGH. Sure you get to see lives changed. You even get to make a different world. Those things are awesome. But at it’s core, leadership is tough. TOUGH, TOUGH, TOUGH, and oh yeah, it’s tough. Get the picture?

I’ve seen it over and over in my life. People who are cruising along for God that come up against a difficult wall or situation. Next thing you know they fold and flame out. “I deserved better…. God should have rewarded me for being a leader… If God really cared I wouldn’t have gone through this difficult time.” I have heard all of that. But here’s the dang deal: This world is under the sway of our enemy, the Devil. As soon as you step up to lead, you WILL come under attack. We are in a SPIRITUAL BATTLE, not golfing the back nine at the spiritual Country Club. There is a reason why they say “War is Hell.” Because it is.

So maybe you are wondering if you should be a leader or not. Well in many respects we all are leaders in one way or another. But maybe you’re thinking of being a teacher, a shepherd, or some other kind of ministry leader. Don’t run away just because it’s scary. Cowards don’t change the world. Determine not to get discouraged. Get people around you who can encourage you. Ultimately, you can decide to be like Joshua who said to the people, “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

And don’t forget Romans 15:5 “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus…”

I sat in awe at my mother’s funeral. As I heard friend after friend share what my mother meant to them, I realized there were traits my mother had that I hadn’t noticed before. I saw so many things I started taking notes. I didn’t want to forget what I heard. I already knew I had an awesome mother that I loved very much. I was just overlooking some things.

For example, my mom was tenacious. She fought like heck after her stroke to get back on her feet and to get moving forward in her life. That’s just one of many traits I saw. After the funeral, I was reflecting on what I heard. I asked myself the question “Why do people have to die before you realize how awesome they were?” The truth is, you don’t!

I learned something that day. Years of advice I had received from others started making sense… You have to always try to look for the good in others. I know that everyone is a sinner. I know the heart of man is deceitful. But, WE ARE THE HANDIWORK OF GOD, even if we have screwed up real bad.

You see, leadership is influence. Everybody influences somebody. The thing to ask is “Am I influencing others towards Jesus or away from him?” We should want to influence people for good, towards Jesus. And an important part of being able to influence towards God is the learned ability to always find the good in others.

If we can always try to find the good in others, here are some benefits:

1) People we lead will enjoy following more. They will respond better to our leadership. We all want to follow someone who can help us feel like we have potential and can make a difference.

2) We won’t write off “bad” people as quickly. The truth is nobody is beyond the reach of God’s grace. Plus, we’ve got no business writing anyone off in the first place.

4) We won’t demonize others that are different from us. I’m thinking here about politics, people we work with, etc.

5) We will be more godly in the way we treat others

Are you looking for the good in others? Why or why not?